'''Wes Bellamy''' is the founder of [[Helping Young People Evolve]] and a candidate for one of three Democratic nominations for [[City Council]] in 2015. <ref name="2015">{{cite web|title=Bellamy enters race for Charlottesville City Council|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/20170-bellamy-enters-cville-city-council-race/|author=Lacey Naff|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=February 15, 2015|accessdate=February 17, 2015}}</ref>

+

'''Wes Bellamy''' is a member of City Council and a former vice mayor of the city of [[Charlottesville]]. <ref>{{minutes-citycouncil|when=January 4, 2016|id=732436}}</ref> He was elected to the [[Charlottesville City Council]] on November 3, 2015. He received the most amount of votes of the three victors. <ref name="unofficial">{{cite web|title=2015 November General - Unofficial Results|url=http://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2015%20November%20General/Site/Locality/ALBEMARLE%20COUNTY/Index.html|author=|work=|publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections|location=|publishdate=November 3, 2015|accessdate=November 3, 2015}}</ref>

Tweets made by Bellamy came under fire in late 2016 and prompted many for him to resign from Council. In late December, he resigned from a teaching post at [[Albemarle High School]]. <ref name="AHS-resign">{{cite-progress|title=Bellamy resigns AHS teaching position|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/bellamy-resigns-ahs-teaching-position/article_4e20d9c6-cbc4-11e6-95d8-d39962baaa5c.html|author=Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=December 27, 2016|publishdate=December 26, 2016|accessdate=}}</ref>

−

==Election 2015==

+

He will not seek election to a second term. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Councilors Bellamy, Signer will not seek re-election|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/councilors-bellamy-signer-will-not-seek-re-election/article_5f726620-51a7-11e9-815c-17b2febac82b.html|author=Nolan Stout|pageno=|printdate=March 29, 2019|publishdate=March 29, 2019|accessdate=March 29, 2019}}</ref>

−

Bellamy made his campaign announcement on February 15, 2015 at [[C'Ville Coffee]]. <ref name="2015" />

−

==Election 2013==

+

==Biography==

+

Bellamy moved to the Charlottesville area in 2009 to work for the [[National Ground Intelligence Center]]. He left that position shortly afterwards and began teaching in Albemarle schools. <ref name="AHS-resign" /> He established the [[Helping Young People Evolve]] in 2011 and soon afterwards entered city politics.

Bellamy sought one of two nominations for Council in 2013. He placed 3rd in the June 11, 2013 Democratic Primary for City Council. <ref name="announce">{{cite web|title=Bellamy announces Council candidacy|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/14281-bellamy-announcement/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=March 13, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="defeat">{{cite-progress|title=It's official: Fenwick to be on ballot for City Council|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/it-s-official-fenwick-to-be-on-ballot-for-city/article_926b3dd2-d547-11e2-bb67-0019bb30f31a.html|author=K. Burnell Evans and Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=June 15, 2013|publishdate=June 14, 2013|accessdate=June 19, 2013|cturl=}}</ref>

Bellamy announced his candidacy on March 13, 2013 at [[Tonsler Park]]. Just a month before, he had declared he would not run this year, but changed his mind. <ref>{{cite web|title=Szakos makes bid for second Council term official|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/14085-szakos-second-term-announcement/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=February 14, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> He is originally from Atlanta, and moved to the area to take a job at the [[National Ground Intelligence Center]].

Bellamy announced his candidacy on March 13, 2013 at [[Tonsler Park]]. Just a month before, he had declared he would not run this year, but changed his mind. <ref>{{cite web|title=Szakos makes bid for second Council term official|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/14085-szakos-second-term-announcement/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=February 14, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> He is originally from Atlanta, and moved to the area to take a job at the [[National Ground Intelligence Center]].

Bellamy raised $3,828 between January 1 and May 29, 2013. His largest campaign contribution was $500 from [[Mark Brown]]. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Palmer, McKeel lead local candidates in fundraising|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/palmer-mckeel-lead-local-candidates-in-fundraising/article_c82be91e-cfe1-11e2-92b9-0019bb30f31a.html|author=Daily Progress Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=|publishdate=June 7, 2013|accessdate=June 10, 2013|cturl=}}</ref>

Bellamy raised $3,828 between January 1 and May 29, 2013. His largest campaign contribution was $500 from [[Mark Brown]]. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Palmer, McKeel lead local candidates in fundraising|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/palmer-mckeel-lead-local-candidates-in-fundraising/article_c82be91e-cfe1-11e2-92b9-0019bb30f31a.html|author=Daily Progress Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=|publishdate=June 7, 2013|accessdate=June 10, 2013|cturl=}}</ref>

Bellamy also participated in a questionnaire on public housing conducted by the [[Public Housing Association of Residents]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=Questionnaire for City Council Candidatesurl=http://www.pharcville.org/2013/06/04/phar-questionnaire-for-city-council-candidates/|author=|work=|publisher=|location=|publishdate=June 4, 2013|accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref>

Bellamy also participated in a questionnaire on public housing conducted by the [[Public Housing Association of Residents]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=Questionnaire for City Council Candidatesurl=http://www.pharcville.org/2013/06/04/phar-questionnaire-for-city-council-candidates/|author=|work=|publisher=|location=|publishdate=June 4, 2013|accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref>

+

+

===2015 election===

+

Bellamy tried again in the 2015 Democratic race, when three seats were up for nomination. <ref name="2015bid">{{cite web|title=Bellamy enters race for Charlottesville City Council|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/20170-bellamy-enters-cville-city-council-race/|author=Lacey Naff|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=February 15, 2015|accessdate=February 17, 2015}}</ref>

+

+

Bellamy made his campaign announcement on February 15, 2015 at [[C'Ville Coffee]]. <ref name="2015bid" /> On the election date of November 3, 2015, Bellamy was 29 years old (2 months 22 day younger than [[James Barr III]] elected in 1948).

Soon after election, Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed him to the State Board of Election.

+

+

==Controversial tweets==

+

Tweets made from Bellamy's account between 2009 and 2014 were first published by activist [[Jason Kessler]] in late November and then published in other media outlets. <ref>{{cite web|title=Homophobic, sexist, anti-white language abundant in Charlottesville vice mayor's tweets|url=http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2016/11/wes-bellamy-charlottesville-twitter|author=Anna Higgins and Tim Dodson|work=News Article|publisher=Cavalier Daily|location=|publishdate=November 28, 2016|accessdate=December 27, 2016}}</ref>

2013 election

Bellamy sought one of two nominations for Council in 2013. He placed 3rd in the June 11, 2013 Democratic Primary for City Council. [6][7]

Bellamy announced his candidacy on March 13, 2013 at Tonsler Park. Just a month before, he had declared he would not run this year, but changed his mind. [8] He is originally from Atlanta, and moved to the area to take a job at the National Ground Intelligence Center.

Bellamy tied with Bob Fenwick with 1,088 votes each in the June 11, 2013 Democratic primary. [9] After a count of provisional ballots, Fenwick edged Bellamy by five votes. [7]

Bellamy raised $3,828 between January 1 and May 29, 2013. His largest campaign contribution was $500 from Mark Brown. [10]

2015 election

Bellamy tried again in the 2015 Democratic race, when three seats were up for nomination. [12]

Bellamy made his campaign announcement on February 15, 2015 at C'Ville Coffee. [12] On the election date of November 3, 2015, Bellamy was 29 years old (2 months 22 day younger than James Barr III elected in 1948).